Natalie Portman slaps John Galliano

Oscar winner Natalie Portman has administered a righteous shoeing to fashion designer John Galliano, who has just been given his marching orders by Christian Dior after being accused of delivering a spectacularly obnoxious anti-Semitic rant.

Galliano was caught on mobile phonecam last December outside Paris café La Perle, declaring "I love Hitler", and telling a group of Italian girls: "People like you would be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers, would all be fucking gassed."

The footage hit the interwebs yesterday, after Galliano was cuffed for allegedly hurling anti-Semitic and racial abuse at two other customers at the same establishment last Thursday night.

Portman, who's the face of Miss Dior Cherie perfume, said in a statement yesterday: "I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano's comments that surfaced today. In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr Galliano in any way.

"I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful."

Dior confirmed today that it too no longer wished to be associated with the loose-mouthed Galliano. Chief exec Sidney Toledano said in a statement: "I very firmly condemn what was said by John Galliano, which totally contradicts the values which have always been defended by Christian Dior.

"Today, because of the particularly odious nature of the behaviour and words of John Galliano in a video made public this Monday, the Christian Dior house has decided to lay him off immediately and has begun firing procedures against him." ®